In the early morning of the first of September 1939, SMS SchleswigHolstein opens fire on the Westerplatte peninsula in Gdansk. Almost simultaneously, the German Air Force attacks the small town of Wielun southwest of Lodz. The 2nd World War began with the German invasion of Poland. From the beginning, this conflict was conducted with great brutality and cost the lives of thousands of civilians. Even if the Wehrmacht defeats the neighbouring country within a few weeks, the campaign is not as uncomplicated as expected: The Poles resist bitterly. The documentary takes a detailed look at various aspects of the attack and illustrates the consequences of the campaign for the further course of the war.

Documentary: On the edge of the abyss – The history of World War II EP1: The Invasion
Directed by: Nina Adler, Hendrik Behrendt
Production: Spiegel TV

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